Wood chipper, control system therefor, and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A wood chipper includes a frame, an infeed system, a rotatable cutting system, and at least one feed wheel disposed between the infeed system and the cutting system to feed wood material to the cutting system. The wood chipper also includes a winch which includes a winch line having a first end, and a collar disposed adjacent the first end of the winch line. The wood chipper further includes a detector adapted to detect a first and a second position of the winch line, wherein the detector is adapted to allow operation of the at least one feed wheel and prohibit operation of the winch when the first position of the winch line is detected, and to allow operation of the winch and allow operation of the at least one feed wheel in a predefined manner when the second position is detected.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/434,221 entitled “Wood Chipper, Control System Therefor, andMethod Thereof filed Mar. 29, 2012 and which claims the benefit of thefiling date of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/468,680 whichwas filed on Mar. 29, 2011, each of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wood and brush chippers, and morespecifically to a wood chipper comprising a winch for processing woodsuch as brush, branches, and the like.

A variety of machines have been developed to recycle, reduce, orotherwise process wood and brush products. Included therein are machinesthat chip, cut, grind, or otherwise reduce waste (wood) productsincluding, generally, chippers (disk and drum types), hammer mills,hogs, shredders, grinders, and forestry mowers.

These waste processing systems typically include an infeed system and awaste reducing system, wherein the infeed system is used for directingthe waste material to the waste reducing system, the waste reducingsystem being used for reducing the waste material.

For example: wood chippers are used to reduce branches, trees, and otherbulk wood products into small wood chips. A typical wood chipper oftenincludes an infeed chute; a feed system which may be adapted forcontrolling the feed rate of wood products; a wood chipping mechanism orsystem; a drive system for the feed system and chipping mechanism; and adischarge chute. The infeed chute is typically a funnel-type conduitprovided with a wide opening which tapers toward the feed system toconverge the bulk wood/waste products toward the chipping mechanism and,through the action of the feed system, the bulk wood products arebrought into contact with the chipping mechanism which grinds, flails,cuts, or otherwise reduces the wood and waste products into smallerpieces. The smaller pieces are then typically propelled into thedischarge chute where they exit the wood chipper.

It is known to provide a wood chipper for chipping wood such as brush,branches, and the like to produce wood chips. An example of such a woodchipper is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,539 to Morey, the disclosureof which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In thispatent, the wood chipper includes an infeed assembly, feed wheelassembly, and a cutting assembly having a rotatable disc with at leastone knife or blade for chipping the wood entering the wood chipper andreducing it to wood chips. Typically, the feed wheel assembly includes astationary lower feed wheel connected to a lower housing and a movableupper feed wheel connected to an upper housing movable relative to thelower housing for allowing wood to enter the cutting assembly. The woodchipper also includes an engine connected to a hydraulic pump, whichpumps fluid to drive hydraulic motors to rotate the feed wheels.

Other examples of such wood chippers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,032,707 to Morey et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,125 to Morey et al; U.S.Pat. No. 6,016,855 to Morey; U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,539 to Morey; U.S. Pat.No. 6,000,642 to Morey; U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,596 to Morey; U.S. Pat. No.6,357,684 to Morey; U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,204 to Morey; U.S. Pat. No.7,121,488 to Marriott et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,320 to Morey et al.;and U.S. Pat. No. 6,955,310 to Morey, all of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

Additionally, it is known to incorporate a winch and winch line intothese wood chippers system in order to assist with the pulling and/orfeeding of the various wood products into the feed tray and feed wheelassembly. Generally speaking, the winch assembly is utilized to assistwith the positioning and/or feeding the supply of bulk wood products tothe wood chipper. This is typically accomplished by extending the winchline to the material to be processed, anchoring the winch line thereto,and then using the winch to position and/or feed the unprocessed wood tothe chipper. Although these existing types of chippers have worked well,they suffer from the disadvantage that, inter alia, the winch line maybecome entangled in the feed wheel assembly if the winch line isextended while the feed wheel assembly is operating. As a result ofthis, the winch line can accidentally be fed into the feed wheelassembly, and further may be fed into the cutting assembly, therebycausing operational downtime and/or damage to one or more systems andcomponents of the chipper. Therefore, there is a need in the art toprovide a novel control for a wood chipper that overcomes the abovedisadvantages.

Accordingly, a need exists for novel systems and methods which have,among other advantages, the ability to reduce or prevent the winch linefrom becoming entangled within one or more of the infeed and reducingsystems of the wood chipper, and reducing or preventing the winch linefrom becoming entangled in a manner that is automatic and therefore doesnot rely on operator intervention. Therefore, a wood chipper that solvesthe aforementioned disadvantages and having the aforementionedadvantages is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The aforementioned drawbacks and disadvantages of these former woodchippers have been identified and a solution is set forth herein by theinventive wood chipper which includes a frame; an infeed system; acutting system spaced from the infeed system; at least one feed wheeldisposed between the infeed system and the cutting system to feed woodmaterial to the cutting system; a winch operatively attached to theframe; a winch line operatively attached to the winch and comprising afirst end; and a detector adapted to detect a first and a secondposition of the winch line, wherein the detector is adapted to allowoperation of the at least one feed wheel and prohibit operation of thewinch when the first position of the winch line is detected, and toallow operation of the winch and allow operation of the at least onefeed wheel in a predefined manner when the second position is detected.This embodiment may further include, wherein: the predefined mannercomprises preventing the operation of the at least one feed wheel andmay further include preventing the operation of the cutting system; thepredefined manner comprises operating the at least one feed wheel in areverse direction, and may further include preventing the operation ofthe cutting system; the detector is disposed adjacent an operationalpath of the winch line; the detector is disposed adjacent an end of aboom, the boom enclosing a portion of the winch line; the winch line isenclosed when in the first position; a portion of the winch line from aproximate end to a distal end is enclosed when in the first position;the detector is disposed forwardly of an infeed chute; a probe disposedadjacent the first end of the winch line; the detector operativelydisposed adjacent the winch line in order to detect the probe, and mayfurther include when the probe and detector are adjacent, the winch lineis in the first position, and when the probe and the detector are notadjacent, the winch line is in the second position, or the winch linecomprises an end loop disposed adjacent the first end and the probe isdisposed rearwardly of the end loop; the detector is a sensor adapted tosense when the winch line is in the first and second position, andfurther the sensor is a positional sensor adapted to sense the positionof the winch line, and yet further, a band disposed adjacent the firstend of the winch line, the band adapted to define the first and secondposition of the winch line, or the sensor is operatively disposedadjacent the winch line in order to sense the band, and further thesensor is operatively disposed adjacent the winch line in order todetect the band; wherein when the band and detector are adjacent, thewinch line is in the first position, and when the probe and the detectorare not adjacent, the winch line is in the second position; a collardisposed adjacent the first end of the winch line; and wherein thedetector is a switch comprising a first and a second position, the firstposition allowing operation of the at least one feed wheel andprohibiting operation of the winch, the second position allowingoperation of the winch and allowing operation of the at least one feedwheel in the predefined manner, the switch operatively attached to theframe such that the collar is adapted to move the switch to the firstposition when the winch line is in a retracted position and releases theswitch to the second position when the winch line moved from theretracted position, and further the switch is a momentary switchnormally biased to the second position, and yet further, the collar ispositionable along the winch line. Still further yet, the sensor maycomprise a magnetic pick-up, the detector may be disposed adjacent anoperational path of the winch line, the detector may be disposedforwardly of the housing, the winch line may be substantially enclosedwithin an extended housing when in a stored position, and the winch linemay comprise and end loop and the probe is disposed aft of the end loop.Still further, alternate embodiments may comprise a boom for enclosingthe winch line in an operational configuration, the boom extending fromthe winch, the boom comprising a guide portion disposed at a distal endthereof, and-the switch is disposed on the distal end of the boom, andyet further wherein the infeed assembly comprises an infeed chute andthe boom is disposed on the infeed chute, and yet further, a distal endof the boom extends over an infeed tray.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a wood chippercomprising: a frame; an infeed assembly operatively attached to theframe; a rotatable cutting assembly spaced from the infeed assembly; atleast one feed wheel disposed between the infeed assembly and thecutting assembly to feed wood material to the cutting assembly; a winchoperatively attached to the frame; a winch line operatively attached tothe winch and comprising a first end; a collar disposed adjacent thefirst end of the winch line; a switch comprising a first and a secondposition, the first position allowing operation of the at least one feedwheel and prohibiting operation of the winch, the second positionallowing operation of the winch and allowing operation of the at leastone feed wheel in a predefined manner; the switch disposed adjacent anoperational path of the winch line such that the collar is adapted tomove the switch into the first and second positions. The embodiment mayfurther comprise, wherein: the predefined manner comprises preventingthe operation of the at least one feed wheel and/or preventing theoperation of the cutting system; or the predefined manner comprisesoperating the at least one feed wheel in a reverse direction and/orpreventing the operation of the cutting system. The embodiment mayfurther comprise: a boom for enclosing the winch line the boomcomprising a guide portion disposed at a distal end thereof; and theswitch is disposed on the distal end of the boom, and further, a housingdisposed between said infeed assembly and said rotatable cuttingassembly; wherein the boom is disposed on the housing, and the distalend of the boom extends over an infeed tray. The embodiment may furthercomprise, wherein the winch includes a release for releasing the winchline.

In another aspect of the present invention, a wood chipper comprises: aframe; an infeed assembly operatively attached to the frame; a rotatablecutting assembly spaced from said infeed assembly and operativelyattached to the frame; at least one feed wheel operatively attached tothe frame disposed between said infeed assembly and said cuttingassembly to feed wood material to said cutting assembly; a housingdisposed between said infeed assembly and said rotatable cuttingassembly; a winch operatively attached to the housing; a winch linecomprising a proximate end operatively attached to the winch, and adistal end opposite thereto and operatively attached to the winch; acollar disposed adjacent the distal end of the winch line; a boomadapted to enclose the winch line in an operational configuration, theboom comprising a distal end; a switch comprising a first retracted andan second extended position, the switch normally biased to the extendedposition, the retracted position allowing operation of the at least onefeed wheel and prohibiting operation of the winch, the extended positionallowing operation of the winch and allowing operation of the at leastone feed wheel in one of a reverse or non-operational condition; theswitch operatively attached to the distal end of the boom such that thecollar is adapted to actuate the switch to the retracted position whenthe winch line is in a fully retracted position and adapted to releasethe switch to the extended position when the winch line is moved fromthe retracted position.

And still in another aspect of the present invention, a control for awood chipper having a powered cutting system, a powered feed system, anda winch comprises: a collar adapted to be disposed on a winch line of awinch; a switch comprising a first and a second position, the switchadapted to be disposed along an operational path of the winch line;wherein the collar is adapted to move the switch from the first andsecond positions; a control system in communication with the switch andadapted to be operatively connected to the winch and a powered feedsystem, whereby when the switch is in the first position, the controllerallows operation of the powered feed system and prohibits operation ofthe winch, and when the switch is in the second position, the controllerallows operation of the winch and allows operation of the powered feedsystem in a predefined manner. The embodiment may further comprise,wherein: the predefined manner comprises preventing the operation of theat least one feed wheel, or the predefined manner comprises operatingthe at least one feed wheel in a reverse direction.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a method of controllinga wood chipper having a powered cutting system, a powered feed system,and a winch comprising: providing a detector adapted to detect a firstand a second position of a winch line; detecting the first and thesecond position of the winch line; allowing operation of at least onefeed wheel and prohibit operation of the winch when the first positionof the winch line is detected, and to allow operation of the winch andallow operation of the at least one feed wheel in a predefined mannerwhen the second position is detected; extending the winch line, therebymoving the winch line to the second position; detecting the secondposition of the winch line; powering the winch; using the winch to pullunprocessed wood products to the wood chipper; retracting the winchline, thereby moving the winch line to the first position; detecting thefirst position; removing power from the winch; and operating the woodchipper to process the wood products. This embodiment may furtherinclude: the predefined manner comprises preventing the operation of theat least one feed wheel or the predefined manner comprises operating theat least one feed wheel in a reverse direction.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling awood chipper having a powered cutting system, a powered feed system, anda winch comprising: providing a switch adapted to switch between a firstand a second position, the switch adapted to be disposed along anoperational path of a winch line of a winch; providing a collar adaptedto be disposed on the winch line, wherein the collar is adapted to movethe switch from the first and second positions; whereby when the switchis in the first position, the controller allows operation of the poweredfeed system and prohibits operation of the winch, and when the switch isin the second position, the controller allows operation of the winch andallows operation of the powered feed system in one of a reverse ornon-operational condition; extending the winch line, thereby moving thecollar attached thereto, the collar releasing the switch to the secondposition; using the winch to pull unprocessed wood products to the woodchipper; retracting the winch line, thereby moving the collar attachedthereto, the collar moving the switch to the first position; andoperating the wood chipper to process the wood products. This embodimentmay further include providing a control system in communication with theswitch, the control system adapted to be operatively connected to thewinch and a powered feed system for control thereof.

And still in another aspect of the present invention, a wood chippercomprising: a power source; an infeed system; a cutting system spacedfrom the infeed system; at least one feed wheel disposed between theinfeed system and the cutting system to feed wood material to thecutting system; a winch including a winch line; a detector adapted todetect a first and a second load on one or more of the power source, theinfeed system, and the cutting system, wherein the detector is adaptedto allow operation of the at least one feed wheel and prohibit operationof the winch when the first load is detected, and to allow operation ofthe winch and allow operation of the at least one feed wheel in apredefined manner when the second load is detected. And, may furtherinclude: the predefined manner comprising preventing the operation ofthe at least one feed wheel, or the predefined manner comprisesoperating the at least one feed wheel in a reverse direction.

And yet still in another aspect of the present invention, a wood chippercomprises: an engine; an infeed system; a cutting system spaced from theinfeed system; at least one feed wheel disposed between the infeedsystem and the cutting system to feed wood material to the cuttingsystem; a winch; and a detector adapted to detect a first and a secondspeed of the engine, wherein the detector is adapted to allow operationof the at least one feed wheel and prohibit operation of the winch whenthe first speed of the engine is detected, and to allow operation of thewinch and allow operation of the at least one feed wheel in a predefinedmanner when the second speed of the engine is detected, wherein further,the predefined manner comprises preventing the operation of the at leastone feed wheel or the predefined manner comprises operating the at leastone feed wheel in a reverse direction. And, yet further wherein: thedetector is a sensor adapted to sense the speed of the engine and tooutput a signal thereof; the wood chipper further comprising a controlsystem operatively connected to the sensor, the winch, and the at leastone feed wheel, whereby when the engine speed is above a firstpredefined level, the controller allows operation of the at least onefeed wheel and prohibits operation of the winch, and when the speed isbelow a second predefined level, the controller allows operation of thewinch and allows operation of the at least one feed wheel in thepredefined manner; a second detector adapted to detect a first and asecond position of the winch line, wherein the second detector isadapted to allow operation of the at least one feed wheel and prohibitoperation of the winch when the first position of the winch line isdetected, and to allow operation of the winch and allow operation of theat least one feed wheel in a predefined manner) when the second positionis detected, and yet further may comprise a second detector adapted todetect a first and a second position of the winch line and operativelyconnected to the control system, wherein the control system is adaptedto allow operation of the at least one feed wheel and prohibit operationof the winch when the first position of the winch line is detected andthe engine speed is above a first predefined level, and to allowoperation of the winch and allow operation of the at least one feedwheel in a predefined manner when the second position of the winch lineis detected and the engine speed is below the second predefined level.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a wood chippercomprises: an engine; an infeed assembly operatively attached to theframe; a rotatable cutting assembly spaced from said infeed assembly andoperatively attached to the frame; at least one feed wheel operativelyattached to the frame disposed between said infeed assembly and saidcutting assembly to feed wood material to said cutting assembly; ahousing disposed between said infeed assembly and said rotatable cuttingassembly; a winch operatively attached to the housing; a winch linecomprising a proximate end operatively attached to the winch, and adistal end opposite thereto and operatively attached to the winch; aboom adapted to enclose the winch line in an operational configuration,the boom comprising a distal end thereof; a sensor adapted to detect afirst and a second speed of the engine and output a signal thereof; asecond sensor adapted to detect at least a first and a second positionof the winch line; and a control system operatively connected to thefirst and second sensors, the winch, and the at least one feed wheel,whereby when the engine speed is above a first predefined level, and thesecond sensor detects the second position of the winch line, thecontroller allows operation of the at least one feed wheel and prohibitsoperation of the winch, and when the speed is below a second predefinedlevel, and the second sensor detects the first position of the winchline, the controller allows operation of the winch and allows operationof the at least one feed wheel in one of a reverse or non-operationalcondition.

In another aspect of the present invention, a control for a wood chipperhaving a power source, a cutting system, a feed system, and a winch, thecontrol comprises: at least one sensor adapted to sense the load on oneor more of the power source, the cutting system, and the feed system andto output a signal thereof; a control system operatively connected tothe at least one sensor and adapted to be operatively connected to awinch and the feed system, whereby when the load is above a firstpredefined level, the controller allows operation of at least one feedwheel of the feed system and prohibits operation of a winch, and whenthe speed is below a second predefined level, the controller allowsoperation of the winch and allows operation of the at least one feedwheel in a predefined manner. This embodiment may further comprise: thepredefined manner comprises preventing the operation of the at least onefeed wheel, or the predefined manner comprises operating the at leastone feed wheel in a reverse direction, or the load the sensor senses isthe speed of the power source, or a second sensor adapted to detect atleast a first and a second position of a winch line and operativelyconnected to the control system, wherein the control system is adaptedto allow operation of the at least one feed wheel and prohibit operationof the winch when the first position of the winch line is detected andthe engine speed is above a first predefined level, and to allowoperation of the winch and allow operation of the at least one feedwheel in a predefined manner when the second position of the winch lineis detected and the engine speed is below the second predefined level.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a control for a woodchipper having a powered cutting system, a powered feed system, and awinch, the control comprising: at least one sensor adapted to sense thespeed of an engine of a wood chipper and to output a signal thereof; acontrol system operatively connected to the at least one sensor andadapted to be operatively connected to a winch and a powered feedsystem, whereby when the engine speed is above a first predefined level,the controller allows operation of at least one feed wheel of thepowered feed system and prohibits operation of a winch, and when thespeed is below a second predefined level, the controller allowsoperation of the winch and allows operation of the at least one feedwheel in one of a reverse or non-operational condition.

And yet still in another aspect of the present invention, a method ofcontrolling a wood chipper having an engine, a powered cutting system, apowered feed system, and a powered winch comprises: providing a sensoradapted to sense a first and a second speed of the engine; sensing thefirst or the second speed of the engine; allowing operation of the feedsystem and prohibit operation of the winch when the first speed isdetected, and allowing operation of the winch and allow operation of thefeed system in a predefined manner) when the second speed is detected;placing the engine at or below the second speed; extending the winchline; using the winch to pull unprocessed wood products to the woodchipper; retracting the winch line; placing the engine at or above thefirst speed; operating the wood chipper to process the wood products,wherein further embodiment may include: the predefined manner comprisespreventing the operation of the at least one feed wheel or thepredefined manner comprises operating the at least one feed wheel in areverse direction.

And still in another aspect of the present invention, a method ofcontrolling a winch for a wood chipper having an engine, a poweredcutting system, a powered feed system, and a powered winch comprises:determining a first speed of the engine; allowing operation of the feedsystem and prohibiting operation of the winch when the first speed isdetermined; determining a second speed of the engine; and allowingoperation of the winch and allowing operation of the feed system in apredefined manner when the second speed is determined.

And still in another aspect of the present invention, a method ofcontrolling a winch for a wood chipper having an engine, a poweredcutting system, a powered feed system, and a powered winch comprises:determining a first position of a winch line; allowing operation of thefeed system and prohibiting operation of the winch when the firstposition is determined; determining a second position of the winch line;and allowing operation of the winch and allowing operation of the feedsystem in a predefined manner when the second position is determined,wherein further embodiments may comprise, wherein: the determining stepincludes determining the first position of the winch line in responsesolely due to the winch line being retracted and without operatorintervention thereof, or the determining step includes determining thefirst position of the winch line in response to the winch line beingretracted within an enclosure, wherein the winch line is essentiallyenclosed within the enclosure.

In another aspect of the present invention, a wood chipper comprises aframe, an infeed system, and a cutting system spaced from the infeedsystem. The system also includes at least one feed wheel which isdisposed between the infeed system and the cutting system to feed woodmaterial to the cutting system, and a winch operatively attached to theframe and including a winch line operatively attached to the winch andcomprising a first end. The system further includes a detector which isadapted to detect a first and a second position of the winch line,wherein the detector is adapted to allow operation of the cutting systemand prohibit operation of the winch when the first position of the winchline is detected, and to allow operation of the winch and prohibitoperation of the cutting system when the second position is detected.

In yet another aspect of the present invention a wood chipper includes aframe, an infeed assembly operatively attached to the frame, a rotatablecutting assembly spaced from the infeed assembly, at least one feedwheel disposed between the infeed assembly and the cutting assembly tofeed wood material to the cutting assembly, and a winch operativelyattached to the frame. The winch also includes a winch line operativelyattached to the winch and further comprises a first end. A collar isalso disposed adjacent the first end of the winch line. Also included isa switch comprising a first and a second position, the first positionallowing operation of the cutting system and prohibiting operation ofthe winch, the second position allowing operation of the winch andprohibiting operation of the cutting system, wherein the switch isdisposed adjacent an operational path of the winch line such that thecollar is adapted to move the switch into the first and secondpositions.

In still another aspect of the present invention a wood chippercomprises a frame, an infeed assembly operatively attached to the frame,and a rotatable cutting assembly spaced from said infeed assembly andoperatively attached to the frame. The system further includes at leastone feed wheel operatively attached to the frame which is disposedbetween said infeed assembly and said cutting assembly to feed woodmaterial to said cutting assembly. Also included is a housing disposedbetween said infeed assembly and said rotatable cutting assembly, and awinch operatively attached to the housing and including a winch linecomprising a proximate end operatively attached to the winch, and adistal end opposite thereto and operatively attached to the winch. Thesystem further includes a collar disposed adjacent the distal end of thewinch line, a boom adapted to enclose the winch line in an operationalconfiguration, the boom comprising a distal end, and a switch comprisinga retracted and an extended position, the switch normally biased to theextended position, the retracted position allowing operation of thecutting system and prohibiting operation of the winch, the extendedposition allowing operation of the winch and prohibiting operation ofthe cutting system. Further, the switch is operatively attached to thedistal end of the boom such that the collar is adapted to actuate theswitch to the retracted position when the winch line is in a retractedposition and adapted to release the switch to the extended position whenthe winch line is moved from the retracted position.

In yet still another aspect of the present invention a control for awood chipper having a powered cutting system, a powered feed system, anda winch includes a collar adapted to be disposed on a winch line of awinch, and a switch comprising a first and a second position, the switchadapted to be disposed along an operational path of the winch line.Further, the collar is adapted to move the switch from the first andsecond positions. The control further includes a control system incommunication with the switch and adapted to be operatively connected tothe winch and a powered cutting system, whereby when the switch is inthe first position, the controller allows operation of the cuttingsystem and prohibits operation of the winch, and when the switch is inthe second position, the controller allows operation of the winch andprohibits operation of the cutting system.

In another aspect of the present invention a method of controlling awood chipper having a powered cutting system, a powered feed system, anda winch is disclosed and includes: providing a detector adapted todetect a first and a second position of a winch line; detecting thefirst and the second position of the winch line; allowing operation ofthe cutting system and prohibiting operation of the winch when the firstposition of the winch line is detected, and to allow operation of thewinch and prohibit operation of the cutting system when the secondposition is detected; extending the winch line, thereby moving the winchline to the second position; detecting the second position of the winchline; powering the winch; using the winch to pull unprocessed woodproducts to the wood chipper; retracting the winch line, thereby movingthe winch line to the first position; detecting the first position;removing power from the winch; and operating the wood chipper to processthe wood products.

In yet another aspect of the present invention a method of controlling awood chipper having a powered cutting system, a powered feed system, anda winch comprises: providing a switch adapted to switch between a firstand a second position, the switch adapted to be disposed along anoperational path of a winch line of a winch; providing a collar adaptedto be disposed on the winch line, wherein the collar is adapted to movethe switch from the first and second positions; whereby when the switchis in the first position, the controller allows operation of the cuttingsystem and prohibits operation of the winch, and when the switch is inthe second position, the controller allows operation of the winch andprohibits operation of the cutting system; extending the winch line,thereby moving the collar attached thereto, the collar releasing theswitch to the second position; using the winch to pull unprocessed woodproducts to the wood chipper; retracting the winch line, thereby movingthe collar attached thereto, the collar moving the switch to the firstposition; and operating the wood chipper to process the wood products.

In still another aspect of the present invention a wood chipperincludes: a power source; an infeed system; a cutting system spaced fromthe infeed system; at least one feed wheel disposed between the infeedsystem and the cutting system to feed wood material to the cuttingsystem; a winch including a winch line; and a detector adapted to detecta first and a second load on one or more of the power source, the infeedsystem, and the cutting system, wherein the detector is adapted to allowoperation of the cutting system and prohibit operation of the winch whenthe first load is detected, and to allow operation of the winch andprohibit operation of the cutting system when the second load isdetected.

In yet still another aspect of the present invention a wood chipperincludes: an engine; an infeed system; a cutting system spaced from theinfeed system; at least one feed wheel disposed between the infeedsystem and the cutting system to feed wood material to the cuttingsystem; and a winch. Also included is a detector adapted to detect afirst and a second speed of the engine, wherein the detector is adaptedto allow operation of the cutting system and prohibit operation of thewinch when the first speed of the engine is detected, and to allowoperation of the winch and prohibit operation of the cutting system whenthe second speed of the engine is detected.

In another aspect of the present invention a wood chipper comprises: anengine; an infeed assembly operatively attached to the frame; arotatable cutting assembly spaced from said infeed assembly andoperatively attached to the frame; and at least one feed wheeloperatively attached to the frame disposed between said infeed assemblyand said cutting assembly to feed wood material to said cuttingassembly. Also included is a housing disposed between said infeedassembly and said rotatable cutting assembly. Further included is awinch operatively attached to the housing, the winch including a winchline comprising a proximate end operatively attached to the winch, and adistal end opposite thereto and operatively attached to the winch. Thechipper further includes a boom adapted to enclose the winch line in anoperational configuration, the boom comprising a distal end thereof.Further, a sensor is provided which is adapted to detect a first and asecond speed of the engine and output a signal thereof, and a secondsensor is also provided which is adapted to detect at least a first anda second position of the winch line. The chipper further includes acontrol system operatively connected to the first and second sensors,the winch, and the cutting system, whereby when the engine speed isabove a first predefined level, and the second sensor detects the secondposition of the winch line, the controller allows operation of thecutting system and prohibits operation of the winch, and when the speedis below a second predefined level, and the second sensor detects thefirst position of the winch line, the controller allows operation of thewinch and prohibits operation of the cutting system.

In still another aspect of the present invention a control for a woodchipper having a power source, a cutting system, a feed system and awinch includes at least one sensor adapted to sense the load on one ormore of the power source, the cutting system, and the feed system and tooutput a signal thereof. A control system is also included which isoperatively connected to the at least one sensor and adapted to beoperatively connected to a winch and the cutting system, whereby whenthe load is above a first predefined level, the controller allowsoperation of the cutting system and prohibits operation of a winch, andwhen the speed is below a second predefined level, the controller allowsoperation of the winch and prohibits operation of the cutting system.

In yet another aspect of the present invention a method of controlling awood chipper having an engine, a powered cutting system, a powered feedsystem, and a powered winch includes: providing a sensor adapted tosense a first and a second speed of the engine; sensing the first or thesecond speed of the engine; allowing operation of the cutting system andprohibiting operation of the winch when the first speed is detected, andallowing operation of the winch and prohibiting operation of the cuttingsystem when the second speed is detected; placing the engine at or belowthe second speed; extending the winch line; using the winch to pullunprocessed wood products to the wood chipper; retracting the winchline; placing the engine at or above the first speed; and operating thewood chipper to process the wood products.

In another aspect of the present invention a method of controlling awinch for a wood chipper having an engine, a powered cutting system, apowered feed system, and a powered winch comprises: determining a firstspeed of the engine; allowing operation of the cutting system andprohibiting operation of the winch when the first speed is determined;determining a second speed of the engine; and allowing operation of thewinch and prohibiting operation of the cutting system when the secondspeed is determined.

In yet another aspect of the present invention a method of controlling awinch for a wood chipper having an engine, a powered cutting system, apowered feed system, and a powered winch includes: determining a firstposition of a winch line; allowing operation of the cutting system andprohibiting operation of the winch when the first position isdetermined; determining a second position of the winch line; andallowing operation of the winch and prohibiting operation of the cuttingsystem when the second position is determined.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description anddrawings. As such, the above brief descriptions set forth, ratherbroadly, the more important features of the present novel invention sothat the detailed descriptions that follow may be better understood andso that the contributions to the art may be better appreciated. Thereare of course additional features that will be described hereinafterwhich will form the subject matter of the claims.

In this respect, before explaining the preferred embodiment of thedisclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is notlimited in its application to the details of the construction and thearrangement set forth in the following description or illustrated in thedrawings. To wit, the wood chipper of the present disclosure is capableof other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in variousways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for description and not limitation. Where specificdimensional and material specifications have been included or omittedfrom the specification or the claims, or both, it is to be understoodthat the same are not to be incorporated into the claims, unless soclaimed.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which this disclosure is based may readily be used as a basis fordesigning other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out theseveral purposes of the present invention. It is important thereforethat the claims are regarded as including such equivalent constructions,as far as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

Further, the purpose of the Abstract is to enable the United StatesPatent and Trademark Office, the public generally, and especially thescientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith the patent or legal terms of phraseology, to learn quickly, from acursory inspection, the nature of the technical disclosure of theapplication. Accordingly, the Abstract is intended to define neither theinvention nor the application, which is only measured by the claims, noris it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in anymanner.

These and other objects, along with the various features and structuresthat characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For abetter understanding of the wood chipper of the present disclosure, itsadvantages, and the specific traits attained by its use, referenceshould be made to the accompanying drawings and other descriptive matterin which there are illustrated and described the preferred embodimentsof the invention.

As such, while embodiments of the wood chipper are herein illustratedand described, it is to be appreciated that various changes,rearrangements, and modifications may be made therein without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As a compliment to the description and for better understanding of thespecification presented herein, 25 pages of drawings are disclosed withan informative, but not limiting, intention.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art wood chipper;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a wood chipper according to one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional top view of the winch system of the woodchipper of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional top view of another embodiment of thewinch system of the wood chipper of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional top view of yet another embodiment of thewinch system of the wood chipper of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional top view of still another embodiment ofthe winch system, in a retracted state, of the wood chipper of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional top view of the winch system, in anextended state, of the wood chipper of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the winch system of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the winch system of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart according to one embodiment of the wood chipper;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a wood chipper according to yet anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatical view of a hydraulic control system accordingto one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatical view of a hydraulic control system accordingto another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16 comprises FIGS. 16A and 16B and is a flow chart of the woodchipper according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart according to another embodiment of the woodchipper;

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatical view of a hydraulic control system accordingto another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatical view of a hydraulic control system accordingto yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatical view of a hydraulic control system accordingto another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a flow chart according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 22 is a flow chart according to yet another embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 23 comprises FIGS. 23A and 23B and is a flow chart of the woodchipper according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms ofthe preferred embodiment, wherein similar referenced charactersdesignate corresponding features throughout the several figures of thedrawings.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”,“left”, “rear”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivativesthereof, shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However,it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternativeorientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It isalso to be understood that the specific devices and processesillustrated in the attached drawings and described in the followingspecification are exemplary embodiments of the inventive conceptsdefined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and otherphysical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed hereinare not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly stateotherwise.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Wherever possible, these same referenced numeralswill be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.Like features between the various embodiments utilize similar numericaldesignations. Where appropriate, the various similar features have beenfurther differentiated by an alphanumeric designation, wherein thecorresponding alphabetic designator has been changed. Further, thedimensions illustrated in the drawings (if provided) are included forpurposes of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of thepresent invention. Additionally, particular details in the drawingswhich are illustrated in hidden or dashed lines are to be considered asforming no part of the present invention.

As used herein, the term wood and wood products are meant to be used anddefined in their broad, general, and ordinary sense, and the terminologyis meant to include trees, brush, trunks, stems, branches, leaves, orthe like, or anything else that could otherwise be recycled, reduced, orotherwise processed, and further includes non-naturally occurring ormanufactured wood products such as lumbar, pallets, or othermanufactured products that could otherwise be recycled, reduced, orotherwise processed, as is generally known within the art.

As used herein, the term wood chipper is meant to be used and defined inits general and ordinary sense. To wit, systems that recycle, reduce, orotherwise process wood products. Included therein are machines thatchip, cut, grind, or otherwise reduce wood waste products and include,generally, chippers and/or shredders. Of course, this is not meant to belimiting in any manner and these systems may take on numerousconfigurations, and may be used for numerous purposes as is generallyknown within the art.

As described herein above, many of these wood chippers incorporate awinch and winch line into the system in order to assist with the pullingand/or feeding of the various wood products into the feed tray and feedwheel assembly. Generally speaking, the winch assembly is utilized toassist in the positioning and/or feeding of the supply of bulk woodproducts to the wood chipper. Although these existing types of chippershave worked well, they suffer from the disadvantage that, inter alia,the winch line may become entangled in the feed wheel assembly if thewinch line is extended while the feed wheel assembly is operating. As aresult of this, the winch line can accidentally be fed into the feedwheel assembly, and further may be fed into the cutting assembly,thereby causing operational downtime and/or damage to one or moresystems and components of the chipper. Therefore, there is a need in theart to provide a novel control for a wood chipper that overcomes theabove disadvantages.

Accordingly, a need exists for novel systems and methods which have,among other advantages, the ability to reduce or prevent the winch linefrom becoming entangled within one or more of the infeed and reducingsystems of the wood chipper, as well as doing so in a manner that isautomatic and therefore does not rely on operator intervention.Therefore, a control system that solves the aforementioned disadvantagesand having the aforementioned advantages is desired and, disclosedherein. Accordingly, a need exists for control systems and methods thatare, among other things: easily operable; result in increaseproductivity; reduce machine downtime and repairs; as well as are costeffective.

While not meant to be limiting in any manner, it is envisioned that thedisclosed wood chipper, control system, and methods thereof may offerthe following advantages: The control system may be designed to interactwith, cooperate with, or control one or more systems of the woodchipper, whether existing or developed in future. For example, in oneembodiment, the invention may be configured to allow for the operationof the chipper in such a manner that when the winch line of the presentinvention is in a first state (e.g., refracted), the operation of thefeed wheels is allowed, while the operation of the winch is prohibited.However, when the winch line of the present invention is in a secondstate (e.g., extended), the operation of the winch is allowed, while theoperation of the feed wheels may be either prohibited or allowed tooperate only in reverse. As such, entanglement of the winch line duringoperation of the wood chipper can be prevented. Further, the inventivecontrol system is design to work automatically and in conjunction withthe winch line. As such, no additional operator intervention isrequired.

In another embodiment, the invention may be configured to allow for theoperation of the chipper in such a manner that when the engine speed (orother load determining factor) of the chipper is at or above apredetermined operational threshold, for example the speed of the enginerequired to normally process wood products, the operation of the feedwheels is allowed, while the operation of the winch is prohibited.However, when the engine speed of the chipper is at or below apredetermined threshold, for example when the speed of the engine isbelow the speed required to normally process wood products (e.g., atidle), the operation of the winch is allowed, while the operation of thefeed wheels may be either prohibited or allowed to operate only inreverse. As such, entanglement of the winch line during operation of thewood chipper can be prevented. Further, the inventive control system isdesign to work automatically and in conjunction with the engine speedand as such, no additional operator intervention is required.

Further, in one embodiment the inventive systems and methods utilizerelatively simple mechanical and electrical devices in its operation andtherefore, may be more reliable than complex devices. For example, thesystem may be actuated via a switch which is operatively connected to amechanical valve disposed within the hydraulics of a feed system inorder to make inoperable, and/or reverse the feed system; In anotherembodiment, the system is configured so as to require the winch line tobe disposed in a predefined condition or manner for operation of thefeed wheels of the wood chipper and therefore, the system does not allowoperation of the feed wheels when the winch line is not in its properstate; In another embodiment, the system is configured so as to requirethe winch line to be in a predetermined state (i.e., a first state) fornormal operation of the wood chipper. Otherwise, the wood chipper willnot operate as normal.

In another embodiment, the system is configured so as to require theengine speed (or other load determining characteristic) of the woodchipper to be at or above a predefined level or condition for operationof the feed wheels of the wood chipper and therefore, the systems andmethods do not allow operation of the feed wheels when the engine speedis not at its predefined level; In another embodiment, the system isconfigured so as to require the engine speed of the wood chipper to beat or above a predetermined state (i.e., a first state) for normaloperation of the wood chipper. Otherwise, the wood chipper will notoperate as normal;

In another embodiment, the system is configured so as to require theengine speed (or other load determining characteristic) of the woodchipper to be at or above a predefined level or condition in order toallow the feed wheels to be operated, and while at this condition, thewinch is inoperable. Alternatively, when the wood chipper is below thepredefined level, the winch is allowed to operate, while the feed wheelsare either made inoperable, or operate in reverse.

In another embodiment, the systems and methods are designed to beautomatically actuated by the winch line upon reaching a refractedstate; In another embodiment, the system is designed to be automaticallyactuated by the load of the engine; In another embodiment, the controlsystem is designed to be used as a feed control and in yet anotherembodiment, the control system is designed to be used as a winchcontrol.

As such, the control system may be utilized as a feed and/or winchcontrol, either in conjunction with existing feed and winch controls, orexclusive thereto. For example, the wood chipper, control system, andmethods thereof may be utilized to make inoperable, stop, or reverse thefeed wheels of the wood chipper, while allowing operation of the winch,when in a second state, thereby reducing or preventing the winch linefrom becoming entangled within the wood chipper. Again, and for exampleonly, in one embodiment the operator may: remove the winch line from itsretracted or stored position, thereby automatically making inoperable,stopping, or reversing the feed wheels of the wood chipper whileallowing operation of the winch; attach the winch line to the wood orbrush that is to be processed; and move the unprocessed wood material tothe feed assembly of the wood chipper for processing thereby. Due to theabove-defined state of the feed wheels, these actions are nowaccomplished without the possibility that the winch line will becomeentangled in one or more of the feed and cutting systems of the chipper.Further, once the winch is returned to its retracted or stored position,the operation of the winch is automatically disabled and the operationof the feed wheels automatically return to its normally operablecondition.

As a further example and in another embodiment: the operator may placethe engine of the wood chipper below a predefined threshold, therebyautomatically making inoperable, stopping, or reversing the feed wheelsof the wood chipper while allowing operation of the winch; the operatorthen removes the winch line from its stored position; attaches the winchline to the wood or brush that is to be processed; and moves theunprocessed wood material to the feed assembly of the wood chipper forprocessing thereby; the operator then moves the winch line to its storedposition and then adjusts the engine of the wood chipper above thepredefined threshold, and in one embodiment thereby automaticallydisables the winch and automatically returns the operation of the feedwheels to its normal operable condition. Further, various features,systems and controls may be utilized to ensure that the winch line isfully retracted. For example only, the control system may be designed tosense the speed of the engine, as well as the position of the winch linein order to ensure the winch line is refracted and the engine is abovethe predefined level, before operating the feed wheels. Again, due tothe above-defined state of the feed wheels, these actions are nowaccomplished without the possibility that the winch line will becomeentangled in one or more of the feed and cutting systems of the chipper.

Thus, the present wood chipper, control system, and methods thereof notonly prevent the winch line from becoming entangled within the woodchipper, they do so in a manner that is either fully automatic inconjunction with the operation of the winch line, or requires only minoroperator intervention (for example, setting the engine speed).

While control systems for winch and feed wheel operation exist, theseexisting systems are designed to activate only in response to operatorinput. For example, systems that rely on the operator placing, grabbing,pulling, or otherwise activating a control in order to actuate. However,relying upon operator intervention is problematic and, generallyspeaking, the more steps the operator is required to perform, the morelikely it is that short cuts will be taken and/or be deactivated by theoperator. Additionally, these systems rely on the winch cable beingexposed in order to operate (i.e., reach) the control. By leaving thewinch cable exposed, these systems may be susceptible to deactivation orotherwise rendered inoperable by branches, brush, or the like.Contrarily, the control system of the present invention overcomes theseexisting problems. For example, with the system as described furtherherein, the operation of the control is automatic via the positioning ofthe winch or adjusting the speed of the engine, and the winch line maybe, in one embodiment, fully refracted (i.e., shielded) from beingexposed when in the stored position.

Referring now to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, a prior artwood chipper is shown generally at 10′ and includes a frame 12′supported by a pair of wheels 14′, a conventional trailer hitch 16′ toallow the chipper to be towed by a vehicle (not shown), and a powersource 18′. Supported on frame 12′, the wood chipper 10′ includes: aninfeed assembly or system 20′ comprising an infeed tray 22′ and aninfeed chute 24′ to allow wood material to enter the wood chipper; afeed system 25′ comprising a feed wheel assembly (not shown), the feedwheel assembly typically comprising at least one feed wheel (not shown)disposed between the infeed system 20′ and the cutting system 30′ tofeed wood material to the cutting system, and one or more feed wheelhousings 28′; a cutting assembly or system 30′ spaced from the feedsystem 25′ and comprises cutters (not shown) and a cutting assemblyhousing 34′; and a discharge assembly 40′ comprising a discharge chute42′.

The power source 18′ typically comprises an internal combustion engineand provides rotational energy to both the feed wheels (not shown) ofthe feed system 25′ and the cutting disc/drum (not shown) of the cuttingsystem 30′. The engine 18′ operatively couples the feed system 25′ andcutting system 30′ to cause rotation of the feed wheels (not shown) andthe rotatable disc/drum (not shown). The engine 18 is typically operatedsuch that the cutting disc/drum (not shown) rotates at a relatively highvelocity, while the feed wheels (not shown) rotate relatively slowly. Inoperation, trees, brush, and other bulk wood products are fed into theinfeed chute 24′ and captured between, for example, opposed, rotatingfeed wheels (not shown) of the feed system 25′ which feed, pull, orotherwise cause the bulk wood products to encounter the cuttingdisc/drum (not shown) of the cutting system 30″. The cutting system thenreduces the bulk wood products into chips which are expelled throughdischarge chute 42′.

It will be understood that the wood chipper 10 may comprise any suitablewaste reducing machinery such as the trailerable wood chipper as seen inFIG. 1 or any other movable or stationary machinery used to chip, grind,cut, or otherwise reduce bulk products. While the preferred embodimentincorporates a pair of opposed, horizontally aligned feed wheels, it isalso to be understood that any feed system can be incorporated into theinvention. It will be further understood that this application describesthe structure and operation of the feed wheels with respect to hydraulicsystems, but that the feed wheels may be powered by any other suitablemethod. Further, while the preferred embodiment incorporates an internalcombustion engine, the wood chipper can be powered by any other suitablemethods including, but not limited to, electricity, gas, diesel, or apower take-off from an auxiliary power source without departing from thescope of this invention.

The disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art are overcome throughthe waste processing system of the present invention, wherein preferredembodiments are disclosed in FIGS. 2-17. Referring now to FIG. 2, oneembodiment of a wood chipper is shown generally at 10 and includes aframe 12 supported by a pair of wheels 14, and a trailer hitch 16 inorder to allow the waste processing system to be transported by avehicle. Supported on the frame 12 are an infeed system 20, a feedsystem 25 spaced therefrom, a cutting system 30 spaced therefrom, and adischarge chute 42. A power system 18, typically comprising an internalcombustion engine, is also mounted on frame 12 to provide power to botha feed system 25 and the cutting system 30. Also shown in FIG. 2 is awinch assembly or system 50 which comprises a winch 52 for operating awinch line 54.

In one embodiment (see generally FIGS. 2-3) the wood chipper includes awood chipper 10 comprising: a frame 12; an infeed system 20 operativelyattached to the frame 12 and extending therefrom; a rotatable cuttingsystem 30 spaced from the infeed system 20 and operatively attached tothe frame; at least one a feed wheel system 26 (not shown) operativelydisposed between the infeed system 20 and the cutting system 30 to feedwood material to the cutting system; a winch 52 operatively attached tothe wood chipper 10 and including a winch line 54 operatively attachedto the winch and comprising a proximate end 56 operatively attached tothe winch and a first or distal end 58; a detector 60 is adapted todetect a first 62 and a second 64 position of the winch line 54, whereinthe detector is adapted to allow operation of the at least one feedwheel assembly 26 and prohibit operation of the winch 52 when the firstor retracted position of the winch line 54 is detected, and to allowoperation of the winch 52 and allow operation of the at least one feedwheel assembly 26 in a predefined manner when the second or extendedposition is detected.

While the winch 52 and winch line 54 may be operatively connected towood chipper 10 in any operable configuration, FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrateone embodiment wherein the winch 52 is housed within a winch assemblyhousing 70 comprising an elongated arm, extension, or boom 72. In thisembodiment, the housing 70 is attached to the infeed chute 24. Boom 72may enclose and support winch line 54 in an operational configuration,and may also comprise a guide portion 74 disposed at a distal end 76 ofboom 72 for, inter alia, guiding and supporting winch line 54, as wellas extending the winch's operational reach. As winch 52 may be utilizedto assist with the loading and placement of bulk wood products into theinfeed assembly 20, the distal end 76 of boom 72 may be positioned so asto effectuate optimal loading and positioning. In one embodiment, thedistal end 76 of boom 72 terminates over and above the infeed tray 22.Of course, this positioning may be changed as requirements dictate.

Additionally, by enclosing all or a substantial portion of winch line 54within boom 72, for example when winch line 54 is in its retracted orstorage state, the chances of accidentally snagging the winch line 54 inthe feed wheels 26 are reduced during operation of the wood chipper 10.In the illustrated embodiment, a substantial portion of winch line 54 isenclosed and only an end portion, for example a loop portion 78, is notenclosed. However, as long as the exposed portion of the winch line 54is not able to be fed into the feed wheels 26 (e.g., the length of theexposed portion of the winch line 54 from the guide portion 74 to adistal end of loop 78 is shorter than the distance from the guideportion 74 to the feed wheels 26) a substantial portion of winch line 54would be enclosed.

Winch line 54 includes a proximate end 56 which is connected to winch 52in any known manner, for example through take up reel 66, and a first ordistal end 58. Distal end 58 may be extended and retracted from winch52, and in this embodiment from boom 72, and is utilized for connectionwith the unprocessed wood products in order to effectuate loading andpositioning. Further, the winch line 54 may also comprise a loop 78 orother end feature, disposed adjacent first end 58, to assist theoperator with the connection to the wood products.

Also illustrated in FIG. 3 is detector 60 which is adapted to detect atleast the first or retracted position 62 of the winch line 54, and mayalso detect a second or extended position 64 of the winch line 54.Detector 60 may comprise any known detector which is capable ofdetecting the first and/or second position of winch line 54, and isoperatively connected to the winch 52 and the feed wheel assembly 26such that once the first position 62 is detected operation of the feedwheel assembly 26 is allowed while operation of the winch 52 isprohibited, and to allow operation of the winch 52 and allow operationof the feed wheel assembly 26 in a predefined manner when either not inthe first position or when the second or extended position is detected.In one embodiment, the predefined manner comprises preventing theoperation of the feed wheels 26, for example by removing powertherefrom, and in another embodiment, the predefined manner comprisesoperating the feed wheel 26 in a reverse direction (i.e., in a directionthat moves the feed material away from the cutting system 30).Additionally, the predefined manner may also include removing power fromcutting system 30, as well as powering, controlling, removing powerfrom, or otherwise affecting other operable systems of system 10.

Detector 60 may be operatively connected directly to the winch 52 and/orfeed wheels 26 for control thereof. Alternatively, detector 60 mayprovide a signal to a controller 80 in response to the detection of thefirst and/or second position of winch line 54, wherein controller 80 isutilized to control the desired operation of the winch 52 and/or feedwheels 26. While detector 60 may be located anywhere within or onchipper 10, in one embodiment the detector is disposed adjacent theoperational path of winch line 54, wherein the operational path of thewinch line includes the path of the winch line during normal operationof the winch. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates one operational path ofwinch line 54 comprising the path of the winch line from take up reel 66within housing 70, through boom 72, to distal end 76 of boom 72. Ofcourse, any operational path of the winch line may be accommodated byplacing the detector 60 adjacent thereto. This positioning accommodatesthe detection of the position of winch line 54. For example, detector 60may be disposed adjacent the distal end 76 of boom 72. Further, thedetector may be disposed forwardly, or in front of infeed chute 24. Assuch, when winch line 54 is in its retracted state, the end portion 58of winch line 54 is, among other advantages, easily reachable during theoperation of the wood chipper thereby reducing the amount of effortrequired by the operator for operation thereof.

In a further embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the winch line 54includes a probe, band, or other device 82 which is read or detected bydetector 60 in order to ascertain when the winch line 54 is in the firstretracted or second extended position. In this embodiment, the probe 82is positioned on winch line 54 such that the probe 82 defines ordemarcates the first retracted or second extended position of winch line54. For example, when winch line 54 is being retracted and probe 82 isdetected by detector 60, the winch line is in its first or retractedposition, while when winch line 54 is being extended and probe 82 is notdetected, the winch line is in its second or extended position. Asillustrated, one embodiment includes a probe 82 disposed adjacent thefirst end 58 of winch line 54 and the detector 60 operatively disposedadjacent the winch line in order to detect the probe. As such, when theprobe 82 is adjacent detector 60, the winch line is in its first orrefracted position, while when the probe 82 is not adjacent detector 60,the winch line is in its second or extended position. As such, the probe82 may be utilized to define the first 62 and second 64 positions of thewinch line 54. This embodiment also illustrates a winch line 54 whichincludes an end loop 78 disposed adjacent the first end 58 of winch line54, wherein the probe 82 is disposed rewardly of the end loop 78.

In yet another embodiment as illustrated by FIG. 5, the detector 60 is(or is replaced with) a sensor 84 which is adapted to sense when thewinch line 54 is in the first 62 and second 64 position. For example,sensor 84 may comprise a positional sensor adapted to sense the positionof the winch line 54.

Sensor 84 may comprise any known sensor which is capable of detectingand/or signaling at least the first 62, and may sense the second 64,position of winch line 54, and is operatively connected to the winch 52and the feed wheel assembly 26 such that once the first position 62 isdetected, operation of the feed wheel assembly 26 is allowed whileoperation of the winch 52 is prohibited, and to allow operation of thewinch 52 and allow operation of the feed wheel assembly 26 in apredefined manner when the second 64 or extended position is detected(or the first position is not detected). Further, sensor 84 may also beused to detect and signal other, variable components of winch line 54.For example, sensor 84 may be used to determine when the first position62 is near sensor 84, as opposed to solely detecting its presence. Inthis manner, the operation of winch 52 may be enhanced by, for exampleonly, operating winch 52 at multiple speeds: one (e.g., low) speed forretracting winch line 54 when the first position 62 is near, and another(e.g., high) speed for retracting the winch line 54 when the firstposition 62 is not near. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, aband 86 is disposed adjacent the first end 58 of the winch line 54 andthe sensor 84 is operatively disposed adjacent the winch line 54, forexample on the end 76 of boom 72 thereby sensing the band 86, and thecorresponding first and second positions. Sensor 84 could then send asignal to controller 80 in accordance thereto and as defined above. Ofcourse, this is not meant to be limiting in any manner and sensor 84 maycomprise any sensor whether active or passive, scanning or non-scanning,imaging or non-imaging, and including but not limited to positionalsensors and magnetic sensors.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment wherein the detector 60 is (oris replaced with) a switch 90 for detecting the first or retractedposition 62 of winch line 54 (as illustrated by FIG. 6), and the secondor extended position 64 of the winch line 54 (as illustrated by FIG. 7).Switch 90 comprises any known switch which is capable of detecting,activating, or switching between a first position (for example only, anactive position) and a second position (for example only, an non-activeposition), these positions corresponding to the first 62 or second 64position of winch line 54. The switch 90 may also be operativelyconnected to the winch 52 and the feed wheel assembly 26. For example,operatively connected such that once the first position 62 is detected,operation of the feed wheel assembly 26 is allowed operation of thewinch 52 is prohibited, while operation of the winch 52 in allowed andoperation of the feed wheel assembly 26 is allowed only in a predefinedmanner when the second or extended position is detected. In oneembodiment, the predefined manner comprises preventing the operation ofthe feed wheels 26, for example by removing power therefrom, and inanother embodiment the preferred manner comprises operating the feedwheel 26 in a reverse direction (i.e., in a direction that moves thefeed material away from the cutting system 30.

Switch 90 may be mechanical and operatively connected directly to thewinch 52 and/or feed wheels 26 for control thereof. Alternatively,switch 90 may provide a signal to a controller 80 in response theretowherein controller 80 is utilized to control the desired operation ofthe winch 52 and/or feed wheels 26. Further, while switch 90 may belocated anywhere within or on chipper 10, in one embodiment the switchis disposed adjacent the operational path of winch line 54. For example,switch 90 may be disposed adjacent the distal end 76 of boom 72.Further, the switch may be disposed forwardly, or in front of infeedchute 24. As such, when winch line 54 is in its retracted state, the endportion 58 of winch line 54 is, among other advantages, easily reachableduring the operation of the wood chipper thereby reducing the amount ofeffort required by the operator for operation thereof.

In the embodiment illustrated, the winch line 54 includes a collar,band, or other device 92 mounted or otherwise affixed to winch line 54which activates (for example only, pushes in), and deactivates (forexample only, releases) switch 90 in order to ascertain when the winchline 54 is in the first refracted or second extended position. In thisembodiment, the collar 92 is positioned on winch line 54 such that thecollar 92 defines or demarcates the first or refracted 62 (FIG. 6) orsecond extended 64 position (FIG. 7) of winch line 54. For example, whenwinch line 54 is retracted, collar 92 will activate (e.g., push in)switch 90 and the winch line is in its first or retracted position.However, when winch line 54 is extended, withdrawn, or otherwise movedfrom the first position, the collar will no longer activate (e.g.,release) switch 90 and winch line is in its second or extended position.As illustrated, one embodiment includes a collar 92 disposed adjacentthe first end 58 of winch line 54 and the switch 90 is operativelydisposed at the distal end 76 of boom 72. As such, when the collar 92activates switch 90, the winch line is in its first or retractedposition, while when the collar 92 is not activating switch 90, thewinch line is in its second or extended position. As such, the collar 92may be utilized to define the first 62 and second 64 positions of thewinch line 54. In this particular embodiment, switch 90 comprises a2-position momentary switch that is normally biased outwardly (e.g., tothe second or released position).

As best illustrated by FIG. 8, the collar 92 of this embodimentcomprises a circular collar centrally mounted to winch line 54. Thisembodiment also illustrates a winch line 54 which includes an end loop78 disposed adjacent the first end 58 of winch line 54, wherein thecollar 92 is disposed rearwardly of the end loop 78. Typically thecollar 92 will be affixed in a secure (e.g., non-movable) manner alongwinch line 54. However, the collar can be made to be adjustable alongthe winch line 54 and then secured in a desired position. FIG. 8illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the winch line 54 is its first,retracted, or stored position 62, and FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplaryembodiment of the winch line 54 is its second or extended position 64.

During normal operation then, when additional wood material is required,the winch line 54, which is assumed to be in its retracted state (e.g.,first position), is extended. This may be accomplished for example byreleasing the winch through a winch release such as a lever (not shown).Once line 54 is extended, the detector 60 detects the lack of this firstposition and/or the second position and either directly or throughcontroller 80 allows operation of (e.g., powers) winch 52 while allowingoperation of the at least one feed wheel in a predefined manner. In oneembodiment the predefined manner comprises removing power from the feedwheels 26, while an alternate embodiment comprises operating the feedwheels 26 in a reverse direction. Of course, other chipper systems mayalso be controlled in response thereto (e.g., cutting assembly 30). Thewinch is then used to pull unprocessed wood products to the woodchipper. When the winch 52 is no longer required, the winch line 54 isretracted, whereby the detector 60 detects that the winch line 54 isretracted (e.g., in the first position) and accordingly, either directlyor through controller 80, operation of the winch 52 is prohibited (e.g.,removes power therefrom) while normal operation of the feed wheels 26 isallowed (e.g., in a forward direction). FIG. 10 illustrates a flow chartof the above-identified operation of chipper 10 according to onepreferred embodiment.

Yet another embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 11. In this embodiment,the control of the winch 52 and feed wheels 26 is determined by theoperative load of chipper 10. For example, by the load on the powersystem and in one embodiment, more particularly, by therevolutions-per-minute (RPM) of an internal combustion (IC) engine 18used to power wood chipper 10.

Normal operation of a wood chipper typically requires that its powersource operate at a certain level in order to operatively power thevarious systems of the wood chipper 10. For example, for a wood chipper10 powered by an IC engine 18, in order to properly power the feedsystem 25 and the cutting system 30 of a wood chipper 10 duringchipping, the engine 18 should be powered or operated at a predeterminedand/or threshold RPM. This predetermined level is typically arrived atby determining, under normal operating conditions, the RPM level thatthe engine 18 requires in order to sustain the feed system 25 and thecutting system 30 at an acceptable level while the wood chipper 10 is inoperation and chipping. Below this level performance of the wood chipper10 may be negatively affected. As such, when the chipper 10 is operatedbelow this first predetermined level, the chipping or reducing of thebulk wood products should not be performed. However, there are timeswhen the chipping operation is not required and at these times it is notalways prudent to maintain the engine 18 at the desired firstpredetermined level. For example only, when the operator is gathering,securing, or otherwise getting ready the unprocessed wood products, itis not always desirable to operate the engine 18 at the firstpredetermined level. During this period it may be desirable to operatethe engine at, for example, a lower engine speed (second predeterminedlevel) thereby reducing the wear on the engine, as well as reducing fuelconsumption. For example only and in the illustrated embodiment, thisfirst predetermined, threshold, or desired RPM has been determined to be2000 RPM of the engine 18, at or above which the chipping operation(i.e., operation of the feed system 25 and the cutting system 30 whilefeeding bulk wood products to the chipper 10) is acceptable, but belowwhich the chipping operation is not optimally performed or isrestricted. However, other systems of chipper 10 can be operated belowthis first threshold, for example, the winch 52 does not require theengine 18 to be at the first predetermined level and can operateeffectively at a reduced or second predetermined level. Again forexample only, this may be 1500 RPM.

Further, as described hereinabove, it is not always desirable to allowoperation of the winch 52 when the feed system 25 (and/or the cuttingsystem 30) are in operation, as the winch line can become entangled inthe feed system 25 (and/or the cutting system 30). As such, the woodchipper 10 in this embodiment is configured to operate the feed system25 and the cutting system 30, while the winch 52 is made inoperable,when the engine is set to operate (or operates) at (or above) the firstpredetermined level. However, when the engine is set to operate (oroperates) at (or below) the second predetermined level, the feed system25 and the cutting system 30 are set to operate only in a predeterminedmanner, while the winch 52 is made operable. For example only, thepredetermined operational manner of the feed system 25 and the cuttingsystem 30, when the engine is at (or below) the second predeterminedlevel, may comprise removing power from the systems 25 and 30, oralternatively, operating the feed wheels 26 only in a reverse direction,as described herein-above. Of course, any operational configuration maybe so configured.

In this particular embodiment, wherein wood chipper 10 includes an ICengine 18, and infeed assembly 20, a feed system 25, and a cuttingsystem 30, the feed wheel and winch control for the wood chipper 10comprises a controller or control system 100 which is operativelyconnected to one or more sensors 102, feed wheels 26, and cutters 32.Sensors 102 are adapted to read, determine, or sense the engine speed ofengine 18 and thereby send a signal (S) to controller 100, whereincontroller 100, in response to the signal, determines the properoperation of feed wheels 26, and cutters 32. For example. In oneembodiment when sensor 102 senses that the speed of engine 18 is at orabove a first predetermined level, for example, 2000 RPM, a signal (S1)is sent to controller 100 and the controller allows operation of atleast one feed wheel of feed wheel assembly 26 and prohibits operationof winch 52 in response to the engine speed (or signal) being at orabove the first predefined level. However, when sensor 102 senses thatthe speed of engine 18 is at or below a second predetermined level, forexample, 1500 RPM, a signal (S2) is sent to controller 100 and thecontroller allows operation of the winch and allows operation of the atleast one feed wheel in a predefined manner in response to the enginespeed (or signal) being at or below the second predefined level.

Of course, alternate configurations' are possible and sensor 102 may bedesigned to sense other loads on the chipper 10 including but notlimited to the loads on one or more of the feed system 25 and/or thecutting system 30. Further, single, multiple, or variable events of thepower source 18, the feed system 25 and/or the cutting system 30 mayalso be sensed. As such, sensor 102 may be adapted to read or sense anysystem or device that is capable of correlation to the load on chipper10. For example, sensor 102 could be a 2-state sensor, detector, orswitch which is configured to send a signal to control 100 upon sensinga first or second state of engine 18, for example, either the first orsecond predetermined level. Upon sensing one of the states of engine 18,the controller 100 could then be configured to operate the wood chipper10 in either the first or second predetermined states when the engine isin the first state, and correspondingly configured to operate the woodchipper 10 in either the second or first predetermined states when thesensor is either not in the first state or when in its second state.

During normal operation then, when additional wood material is required,engine 18 is reduced in power. This may be accomplished for example bymanually reducing the RPM of the engine. Once the engine is reduced inpower, sensor 102 detects the reduced engine speed, and either directlyor through controller 100 the operation of winch 52 is allowed while theoperation of the at least one feed wheel 26 is only allowed in apredefined manner (e.g., one of not powered or powered in reverse). Ofcourse, other chipper systems may also be controlled in responsethereto. Line 54 is then extended, and the winch 52 is used to pullunprocessed wood products to the wood chipper. When the winch 52 is nolonger required, the winch line 54 is retracted, and engine 18 ispowered up. Sensor 102 then detects the increased engine speed andaccordingly, either directly or through controller 100, operation of thewinch 52 is prohibited (e.g., removes power therefrom) while normaloperation of the feed wheels 26 is allowed (e.g., in a forwarddirection).

Further yet, operation of chipper 10 may be exclusively through sensor102, or alternatively, in conjunction with sensor 102 and detector 60,either directly through either one, both, or through controller 100. Forexample, when sensor 102 and detector 60 are used together and inconjunction with control system 100, the control system 100 may beadapted to allow operation of the at least one feed wheel 26 andprohibit operation of the winch 52 when the first position 62 of thewinch line 54 is detected and the engine speed is above a firstpredefined level (e.g., 2000 RPM), and to allow operation of the winch52 and allow operation of the at least one feed wheel 26 in a predefinedmanner when the second position 64 of the winch line 54 is detected andthe engine speed is below the second predefined level.

During normal operation of this embodiment then, when additional woodmaterial is required, engine 18 is reduced in power and winch line 54,which is assumed to be in its retracted state (e.g., first position), isextended. This may be accomplished for example by releasing the winchthrough a winch release such as a lever (not shown) and manuallyreducing the RPM of the engine. Once line 54 is extended, the detector60 detects the lack of this first position and/or the second positionand sensor 102 detects the reduced engine speed, and either directly orthrough controller 100 the operation of winch 52 is allowed while theoperation of the at least one feed wheel 26 is only allowed in apredefined manner (e.g., one of not powered or powered in reverse). Ofcourse, other chipper systems may also be controlled in responsethereto. The winch is then used to pull unprocessed wood products to thewood chipper. When the winch 52 is no longer required, the winch line 54is refracted, whereby the detector 60 detects that the winch line 54 isretracted (e.g., in the first position) and engine 18 is powered up andsensor 102 detects the increased engine speed. Accordingly, eitherdirectly or through controller 100, operation of the winch 52 isprohibited (e.g., removes power therefrom) while normal operation of thefeed wheels 26 is allowed (e.g., in a forward direction).

The control system 100 is operatively connected to the feed system 25and cutting assembly 30 for operation thereby as described herein-above.The controller 100 is also operatively connected to sensor 102 which maycomprise any sensor or device that is adapted to at least sense ordetermine the RPM of engine 18. Control system 100 may also be connectedto detector 60 as described herein above.

While sensor 102 may comprise a sensor to sense rpm of the engine 18,other embodiments are of course possible. For example, sensor 102 maycomprise an alternator (not shown) of the engine 18, or a magneticpick-up (not shown) cooperating with the cutting assembly 30 to receivean input signal therefrom. The controller 100 may also be connected tofeed system 25 as explained in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,830,204 and 6,814,320,entitled REVERSING AUTOMATIC FEED WHEEL SYSTEM FOR WOOD CHIPPERS, toMorey et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference in their entirety. In this manner the reversing of the feedwheel 26 may be controlled by the automatic feed wheel assemblydisclosed therein. It should be appreciated that sensor 102 can beelectronic and/or mechanical, and/or adapted to control themechanical/hydraulic feed system and/or the mechanical/hydraulic cuttingsystem of wood chipper 10. It should also be appreciated that thecontrol system 100 may be used with a feed wheel assembly that ispowered hydraulically, electronically, or pneumatically, and/or acutting system that is powered hydraulically, electronically, orpneumatically.

In operation of the wood chipper 10, the engine rotates the cuttingassembly 30 and hydraulically rotates the feed wheels 26. Wood is fedinto the infeed assembly 20 by an operator and is contacted by the oneor more feed wheels 26. The wood is then fed by the feed wheels 26 tothe cutting assembly 30 for reduction by the cutters (not shown),whereby as the cutters rotate and contact the wood, the wood is cut orchipped into wood chips, which move through the discharge assembly 40and are expelled out of the out the discharge chute 42.

If the engine RPM is determined to be at or above the first threshold(for example 2000 RPM) by sensor 102, a first signal is sent tocontroller 100 and operation of the feed wheels 26 and cutters orchippers 32 is allowed, while operation of the winch 52 is not allowed.However, if the engine RPM is determined to be at or below the secondthreshold (for example 1500 RPM) by sensor 102, a second signal is sentto controller 100 and operation of the winch is allowed, while operationof the feed wheels 26 and the cutters or chippers 32 are set to operateonly in a predetermined manner. For example only, the predeterminedoperational manner of the feed wheels 26 and the cutters or chippers 32,when the engine is at (or below) the second predetermined level, maycomprise removing power from the systems 25 and 30, or alternatively,operating the feed wheels 26 only in a reverse direction and/orpreventing chippers/cutters 32 from operation, as describedherein-above. Of course, any operational configuration may be soconfigured.

As such, when an operator desires to chip or reduce wood products, theRPM of engine 18 is placed at or above the first level. Sensor 102 thensignals controller 100 to operate (or allows operation of) the feedwheels 26 in a forward direction, thereby feeding the cutting assembly30, and operates (or allows operation of) the cutters 32 to operatenormally (e.g., rotate at operational speed), while preventing operationof the winch 52. However, when the operator desires to use the winch,for example to assist with loading, the operator places or adjusts theRPM of engine 18 at or below the second level. Sensor 102 then signalscontroller 100 to operate (or allows operation of) winch 52 and toeither: prevent the feed wheels 26 from operating, while operating (orallows operation of) the winch; or operates (or allows operation of) thefeed wheels 26 in a reverse direction. In this manner, the feed wheels26 and winch 52 are automatically coordinated and configured via theengine RPM to prevent the winch line 54 from becoming entangled in thewood chipper 10 during operation thereof, as well as automaticallycoordinated and configured via the engine RPM to allow operation of thewinch 52 and line 54 and either prevent operation of the feed system 25or alternatively operating feed system 25 in a reverse direction.

FIG. 12 illustrates one exemplary control system 155 for the operationof the feed wheel assembly 26, cutting assembly 30, and winch 52. Inthis embodiment, a hydraulic control system 155 is illustrated whichcontrols the rotation of the feed wheels 26. The control system 155includes a storage tank 156 containing hydraulic fluid having an inletport and an outlet port thereon. The outlet port of the storage tank 156is connected to an inlet port of a hydraulic pump 158 by a feed line159. An outlet port of the hydraulic pump 158 is connected to a fluidsupply line 160. A pressure relief mechanism or valve 140 and a variablespeed control valve 142 are also operatively disposed within controlsystem 155 as needed. The control system 155 also includes a fluidreturn line 164 connected to the storage tank 156.

The illustrated control system 155 also includes an auto feed controlsub-system 161 operatively disposed to control system 155 comprising,inter alia, a feed or control valve 162 and a reversing auto feed block168 fluidly connected thereto. Control system 161 further includes afluid line 170 interposed between and connected to feed block 168 and aflow divider 172. The flow divider 172 outputs to a feed line 174 andtop feed wheel motor 176. A return line 178 is also provided. The flowdivider 172 also outputs to a feed line 180 and bottom feed wheel motor182. A return line 184 is also provided.

It should be appreciated that pressurized fluid from the hydraulic pump158 flows through control system 155, via the supply lines, to themotors 176 and 182 and returns to the storage tank 156, via the returnlines; it is also to be appreciated that the flow divider 172 dividesthe fluid flow between lines 174 and 180; it is to be furtherappreciated that the feed valve 162 receives fluid via the supply lines,and returns fluid via the return lines, as is known in the art.

The exemplary control system 155 also includes: a discharge controlsystem 261 comprising a swivel discharge control valve 262 and a swiveldischarge motor 276 fluidly connected to control system 155 such thatdischarge chute 42 is movable (e.g., rotatable) via motor 276; a tonguejack control system 361 comprising a tongue jack control valve 362, atongue jack check valve 372, and a tongue jack cylinder 390 fluidlyconnected to control system 155 such that the trailer hitch 16 ismovable (e.g., raised and lowered) via hydraulic cylinder 390; a yokelift control system 461 comprising a yoke lift control valve 462 and ayoke lift cylinder 490 fluidly connected to control system 155 such thatthe one or more feed wheels 26 are movable (e.g., raised and lowered)via Hydraulic cylinder 490; as well as a winch control system 561comprising a winch control valve 562, a winch motor 576, and switch 90fluidly connected to control system 155, wherein switch 90 operates asdescribed hereinabove.

Again it should be appreciated that pressurized fluid from the hydraulicpump 158 flows through control system 155, via the supply lines, and to:the discharge control system 261; the tongue jack control system 361;the yoke lift control system 461; and the winch control system 561, andreturns to the storage tank 156, via the return lines, as is known inthe art.

FIG. 13 illustrates another exemplary control system 150 for theoperation of the feed wheel assembly 26, cutting assembly 30, and winch52. In this embodiment, switch 90 is replaced with a valve 104 which isoperatively connected to control system 100. Control system 100 is alsooperatively connected to one or more of the detector 60 and the sensor102. In this manner, control 100, via valve 104 is operatively connectedto hydraulic control system 155′.

FIG. 14 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the operationalconfiguration of wood chipper 10 utilizing detector 60 as describedhereinabove.

FIG. 15 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the operationalconfiguration of wood chipper 10 utilizing sensor 102 as describedhereinabove.

FIG. 16 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the operationalconfiguration of wood chipper 10 utilizing a configurable or switchablecontrol system 110 that is adapted to operate the chipper utilizing oneor more of the detector 60 and the sensor 102 either alone or incombination to control the winch 52 and the feed system 25 via a switch112. In this embodiment the configurable switch 112 may be either presetor configurable via the operator to control the detector 60 and thesensor 102, either alone or in combination, to control the winch 52 andthe feed system 25 as described herein-above.

As described hereinabove, once the winch line is moved from a storedposition 62 to an extended or in-use position 64, one or more of thesystems 18, 25, and 30 may be turned on, off, or otherwise controlled inresponse thereto. In yet another embodiment, the system 10 works asdescribed hereinabove except rather than controlling the operation offeed wheels 26, the cutters or chippers 32 are controlled. In thisembodiment, operation of the at least one feed wheel 26 is not affectedin response to the winch 52 and the operator is free to choose itsoperational configuration. That is to say that the feed wheels 26 areoperated normally and the operator may choose to place the feed wheels26 in a forward direction, reverse direction, or off. In this manner,the operator is allowed to retain control over the feed system 25, whilethe winch line 54 is prevented from damage via encountering a rotatingcutting head 32.

During normal operation of this embodiment then, when additional woodmaterial is required, the winch line 54, which is assumed to be in itsretracted state (e.g., first position), is extended. Once line 54 isextended, the detector 60 detects the lack of this first position 62and/or the second position 64 and either directly or through controller80 allows operation of (e.g., powers) winch 52 and allows normaloperation of the at least one feed wheel 26, while operation of cutters32 is prohibited. Of course, other chipper systems may also becontrolled in response thereto (e.g., feed system 25). The winch is thenused to pull unprocessed wood products to the wood chipper. When thewinch 52 is no longer required, the winch line 54 is refracted, wherebythe detector 60 detects that the winch line 54 is retracted (e.g., inthe first position 62) and accordingly, either directly or throughcontroller 80, operation of the winch 52 is prohibited (e.g., removespower therefrom) while normal operation of the feed wheels 26 andcutters 32 is allowed. Alternatively, if desired, the cutters 32 couldbe automatically turned on or powered via the winch line be sopositioned. FIG. 17 illustrates a flow chart of the above-identifiedoperation of chipper 10 according to one preferred embodiment.

FIG. 18 illustrates one exemplary embodiment comprising a control system155A for the operation of the feed wheel assembly 26, cutting assembly30, and winch 52. Control system 155A is similar to control system 155as described hereinabove except that control system 155A controls therotation of the cutters 32 in response to detector 60, wherein detector60 is operatively connected to cutters 32 for control thereof. Forexample, in one particular embodiment, switch 90 is operativelyconnected to a clutch 120 via an operative connection 122, whereinclutch 120 controls or powers cutters 32 via an operative connection124. Clutch 120 may be any known clutch and may be mechanically,hydraulically, or electrically operated and/or switched via one or moreconnections 122. Further, clutch 120 may operate cutters 32 in any knownmanner including, inter alia, electrically, mechanically, orhydraulically via one or more connections 124. In one embodiment, engine18 is connected to cutters 32 via two sets of belts (not shown). Thefirst set of belts connecting the engine 18 to the clutch 120, and thesecond set connecting the clutch 120 to the cutters 32. The clutch 120may then be operatively connected to detector 60 (for example, a switch90) and thereby effectuate control of the cutter 32. Of course,additional control systems, whether electronic, mechanical, and/orhydraulic may also be operatively connected to system 155A foradditional control.

Yet another embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 19 which includes controlsystem 155B for control of cutters 32 as described hereinabove, as wellas control of the feed wheels 26 in a predefined manner. The predefinedmanner including operating the feed wheels 26 in a forward or reversedirection, or removing power therefrom. In this manner, both the feedwheels 26 and the cutters 32 may be controlled with respect to thestatus and/or position of the winch line 54.

During normal operation of this embodiment then, when additional woodmaterial is required, the winch line 54, which is assumed to be in itsretracted state (e.g., first position), is extended. Once line 54 isextended, the switch 90 detects the lack of this first position 62and/or the second position 64 and either directly or through acontroller (e.g., controller 80) allows operation of (e.g., powers)winch 52, and either directly via clutch 120 or a controller 80 removespower from cutter 32, while allowing operation of the at least one feedwheel in a predefined manner. In one embodiment the predefined mannercomprises removing power from the feed wheels 26, while an alternateembodiment comprises operating the feed wheels 26 in a reversedirection. When the winch 52 is no longer required, the winch line 54 isretracted, whereby the switch 90 detects that the winch line 54 isretracted (e.g., in the first position) and accordingly, either directlyor through controller 80, operation of the winch 52 is prohibited (e.g.,removes power therefrom), cutters 32 may be automatically turned on andpowered up, or alternatively only allowed to be turned on via operatorinput (e.g., switched or operated normally). Hereto of course,additional control systems, whether electronic, mechanical, and/orhydraulic may also be operatively connected to system 155B foradditional control.

Yet another embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 20. In this embodiment,the control of the winch 52 and cutter 32 is determined by the operativeload of chipper 10. For example, by the load on the power system and inone embodiment, more particularly, by the revolutions-per-minute (RPM)of an internal combustion (IC) engine 18 used to power wood chipper 10.

As described hereinabove, normal operation of a wood chipper typicallyrequires that its power source operate at a certain level in order tooperatively power the various systems of the wood chipper 10. Forexample, for a wood chipper 10 powered by an IC engine 18, in order toproperly power the feed system 25 and the cutting system 30 of a woodchipper 10 during chipping, the engine 18 should be powered or operatedat a predetermined and/or threshold RPM. This predetermined level istypically arrived at by determining, under normal operating conditions,the RPM level that the engine 18 requires in order to sustain the feedsystem 25 and the cutting system 30 at an acceptable level while thewood chipper 10 is in operation and chipping. Below this levelperformance of the wood chipper 10 may be negatively affected. As such,when the chipper 10 is operated below this first predetermined level,the chipping or reducing of the bulk wood products should not beperformed. However, there are times when the chipping operation is notrequired and at these times it is not always prudent to maintain theengine 18 at the desired first predetermined level. For example only,when the operator is gathering, securing, or otherwise getting ready theunprocessed wood products, it is not always desirable to operate theengine 18 at the first predetermined level. During this period it may bedesirable to operate the engine at, for example, a lower engine speed(second predetermined level) thereby reducing the wear on the engine, aswell as reducing fuel consumption. For example only and in theillustrated embodiment, this first predetermined, threshold, or desiredRPM has been determined to be 2000 RPM of the engine 18, at or abovewhich the chipping operation (i.e., operation of the feed system 25 andthe cutting system 30 while feeding bulk wood products to the chipper10) is acceptable, but below which the chipping operation is notoptimally performed or is restricted. However, other systems of chipper10 can be operated below this first threshold, for example, the winch 52does not require the engine 18 to be at the first predetermined leveland can operate effectively at a reduced or second predetermined level.Again for example only, this may be 1500 RPM.

Yet another embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 20. In this embodiment,the control of the winch 52 and feed wheels 26 is determined by theoperative load of chipper 10. For example, by the load on the powersystem and in one embodiment, more particularly, by the revolutions.

As such, the wood chipper 10 in this embodiment is configured to operatethe feed system 25 and the cutting system 30, while the winch 52 is madeinoperable, when the engine is set to operate (or operates) at (orabove) the first predetermined level. However, when the engine is set tooperate (or operates) at (or below) the second predetermined level, thefeed system 25 and the cutting system 30 are set to operate only in apredetermined manner, while the winch 52 is made operable. For exampleonly, the predetermined operational manner of the feed system 25 and thecutting system 30, when the engine is at (or below) the secondpredetermined level, may comprise removing power from the cutters 32while allowing normal operation of the feed wheels 26.

In yet another embodiment, the predetermined operational manner of thefeed system 25 and the cutting system 30, when the engine is at (orbelow) the second predetermined level, may comprise removing power fromthe cutters 32 while operating the feed wheels 26 only in a reversedirection.

In still another embodiment, the predetermined operational manner of thefeed system 25 and the cutting system 30, when the engine is at (orbelow) the second predetermined level, may comprise removing power fromthe cutters 32 and the feed wheels 26. Of course, any operationalconfiguration may be so configured. In the embodiment illustrated, thecontroller 100 is operatively connected to cutters 32 and feed wheels 26and for example only, a clutch 120 may be operatively disposed betweencontroller 100 and cutter 32 for operational control.

During normal operation then, when additional wood material is required,engine 18 is reduced in power. This may be accomplished for example bymanually reducing the RPM of the engine. Once the engine is reduced inpower, sensor 102 detects the reduced engine speed, and either directlyor through controller 100 the operation of winch 52 is allowed while theoperation of the at least one feed wheel 26 is only allowed in apredefined manner (e.g., allowed to operate normally, not powered, orpowered in reverse) and the operation of cutter 32 is prohibited. Ofcourse, other chipper systems may also be controlled in responsethereto. Line 54 is then extended, and the winch 52 is used to pullunprocessed wood products to the wood chipper. When the winch 52 is nolonger required, the winch line 54 is retracted, and engine 18 ispowered up. Sensor 102 then detects the increased engine speed andaccordingly, either directly or through controller 100, operation of thewinch 52 is prohibited (e.g., removes power therefrom) while normaloperation of the feed wheels 26 and cutter 32 is allowed.

Further yet, operation of chipper 10 may be exclusively through sensor102, or alternatively, in conjunction with sensor 102 and detector 60,either directly through either one, both, or through controller 100. Forexample, when sensor 102 and detector 60 are used together and inconjunction with control system 100, the control system 100 may beadapted to allow operation of the at least one feed wheel 26 and cutter32 while prohibiting operation of the winch 52 when the first position62 of the winch line 54 is detected and the engine speed is above afirst predefined level (e.g., 2000 RPM), and to allow operation of thewinch 52, prohibit operation of the cutter 32, and allow operation ofthe at least one feed wheel 26 in a predefined manner when the secondposition 64 of the winch line 54 is detected and the engine speed isbelow the second predefined level.

During normal operation of this embodiment then, when additional woodmaterial is required, engine 18 is reduced in power and winch line 54,which is assumed to be in its retracted state (e.g., first position), isextended. This may be accomplished for example by releasing the winchthrough a winch release such as a lever (not shown) and manuallyreducing the RPM of the engine. Once line 54 is extended, the detector60 detects the lack of this first position and/or the second positionand sensor 102 detects the reduced engine speed, and either directly orthrough controller 100 the operation of winch 52 is allowed, operationof cutter 32 is prohibited, while the operation of the at least one feedwheel 26 is only allowed in a predefined manner (e.g., one of: allowedto operate normally; not allowed to operate; operate in reverse). Ofcourse, other chipper systems may also be controlled in responsethereto. The winch is then used to pull unprocessed wood products to thewood chipper. When the winch 52 is no longer required, the winch line 54is retracted, whereby the detector 60 detects that the winch line 54 isretracted (e.g., in the first position) and engine 18 is powered up andsensor 102 detects the increased engine speed. Accordingly, eitherdirectly or through controller 100, operation of the winch 52 isprohibited (e.g., removes power therefrom) while normal operation of thefeed wheels 26 and cutter 32 is allowed.

The control system 100 is operatively connected to the feed system 25and cutting assembly 30 for operation thereby as described herein-above.The controller 100 is also operatively connected to sensor 102 which maycomprise any sensor or device that is adapted to at least sense ordetermine the RPM of engine 18. Control system 100 may also be connectedto detector 60 as described herein above. Further, control system 100may be operatively connected to cutters 32 in any known manner and forexample only, via a clutch 120.

Further, as described hereinabove, The controller 100 may also beconnected to feed system 25 as explained in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,830,204 and6,814,320, entitled REVERSING AUTOMATIC FEED WHEEL SYSTEM FOR WOODCHIPPERS, to Morey et al., the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety. In this manner the prohibition ofoperating cutter 32 can be tied with the reversing of the feed wheel 26as disclosed therein. It should be appreciated that sensor 102 can beelectronic and/or mechanical, and/or adapted to control themechanical/hydraulic feed system and/or the mechanical/hydraulic cuttingsystem of wood chipper 10. It should also be appreciated that thecontrol system 100 may be used with a feed wheel assembly and cuttingassembly 30 that are powered hydraulically, electronically, orpneumatically.

If the engine RPM is determined to be at or above the first threshold(for example 2000 RPM) by sensor 102, a first signal is sent tocontroller 100 and operation of the feed wheels 26 and cutters orchippers 32 is allowed, while operation of the winch 52 is not allowed.However, if the engine RPM is determined to be at or below the secondthreshold (for example 1500 RPM) by sensor 102, a second signal is sentto controller 100 and operation of the winch is allowed, while operationof the feed wheels 26 and the cutters or chippers 32 are set to operateonly in a predetermined manner. For example only, the predeterminedoperational manner of the feed wheels 26 and the cutters or chippers 32,when the engine is at (or below) the second predetermined level, maycomprise allowing normal operation of the feed wheels 26 while removingpower from cutters 32. Of course, any operational configuration may beso configured.

As such, when an operator desires to chip or reduce wood products, theRPM of engine 18 is placed at or above the first level. Sensor 102 thensignals controller 100 to operate (or allows operation of) the feedwheels 26 in a forward direction, thereby feeding the cutting assembly30, and operates (or allows operation of) the cutters 32 to operatenormally (e.g., rotate at operational speed), while preventing operationof the winch 52. However, when the operator desires to use the winch,for example to assist with loading, the operator places or adjusts theRPM of engine 18 at or below the second level. Sensor 102 then signalscontroller 100 to operate (or allows normal operation of) winch 52,prohibits operation of cutter 32, and may: allow normal operation of thefeed wheels 26; prevent the feed wheels 26 from operating; or operates(or allows operation of) the feed wheels 26 in a reverse direction. Inthis manner, the feed wheels 26, cutters 32, and winch 52 areautomatically coordinated and configured via the engine RPM to preventthe winch line 54 from becoming entangled in the cutting system 30during operation thereof.

FIG. 21 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the operationalconfiguration of wood chipper 10 utilizing a detector (e.g., detector60) as described hereinabove with respect to the operation of cutter 32;FIG. 22 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the operationalconfiguration of wood chipper 10 utilizing a detector (e.g., sensor 102)as described hereinabove with respect to the operation of cutter 32; and

FIG. 23 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the operationalconfiguration of wood chipper 10 utilizing a configurable or switchablecontrol system 110 that is adapted to operate the chipper utilizing oneor more of the detector 60 and the sensor 102 either alone or incombination to control the winch 52 and the cutter 32 via a switch 112.In this embodiment the configurable switch 112 may be either preset orconfigurable via the operator to control the detector 60 and the sensor102, either alone or in combination, to control the winch 52 and thecutter 32 as described herein-above.

It is to be understood that the embodiments described herein may beutilized in conjunction with all known safety features of existingchipper systems. For example, and as described herein, while the feedwheels 26 are described as being operable, it is to be understood thatthe feed wheels 26 are allowed to operate as normal and in conjunctionwith known safety features, as for example, through the operation of andcontrol by known feed wheel controls and existing safety features. Thesame is true for all operational systems including, but not limited to,the cutting system 30 and the power system 18. However, it is envisionedthat while normal operation of, for example, the feed wheels 26 mayrequire additional safety measures, the cessation of or reversing of themovement of feed wheels 26 may not require these additional features andmay therefore, be automatic in response to detector 60 and/or sensor102. Further, while one preferred embodiment incorporates a pair ofopposed, horizontally aligned feed wheels, it is understood that anyfeed system may be utilized. It should be further understood that thisdisclosure describes the structure and operation of the disclosedsystems with respect to a hydraulic system, however, other poweringsystems may also be utilized without departing from the scope of thisinvention.

It is further to be understood that while a linear sequence of eventshas been described, it should be appreciated that various modificationscan be made therein and, as such, the system does not necessarilyrequire a linear sequence of events. It is also to be understood thatvarious modifications may be made to the system, it sequences, methods,orientations, and the like without departing from the inventive conceptand that the description contained herein is merely a preferredembodiment and hence, not meant to be limiting unless stated otherwise.

Advantageously, the wood chipper, its system, and methods as decribedherein have, among other advantages, the ability to reduce or preventthe winch line from becoming entangled within one or more of the infeedand reducing systems of the wood chipper, as well as doing so in amanner that is automatic and therefore does not rely on operatorintervention, is easily operable, results in increase productivity,reduces machine downtime and repairs, as well as are cost effective.

The solutions offered by the invention disclosed herein have thus beenattained in an economical, practical, and facile manner. To wit, a novelwood chipper which prevents the winch line from becoming entangled hasbeen invented. While preferred embodiments and example configurations ofthe inventions have been herein illustrated, shown, and described, it isto be appreciated that various changes, rearrangements, andmodifications may be made therein, without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined by the claims. It is intended that the specificembodiments and configurations disclosed herein are illustrative of thepreferred and best modes for practicing the invention, and should not beinterpreted as limitations on the scope of the invention as defined bythe claims, and it is to be appreciated that various changes,rearrangements, and modifications may be made therein, without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of controlling a wood chipperhaving an engine, a powered cutting system, a powered feed system, and apowered winch comprising: providing a sensor adapted to sense a firstand a second speed of the engine; sensing the first or the second speedof the engine; allowing operation of the feed system and prohibitoperation of the winch when the first speed is detected, and allowingoperation of the winch and allow operation of the feed system in apredefined manner) when the second speed is detected; placing the engineat or below the second speed; extending the winch line; using the winchto pull unprocessed wood products to the wood chipper; retracting thewinch line; placing the engine at or above the first speed; operatingthe wood chipper to process the wood products.
 2. The method accordingto claim 1 wherein: the predefined manner comprises preventing theoperation of the at least one feed wheel.
 3. The method according toclaim 1 wherein: the predefined manner comprises operating the at leastone feed wheel in a reverse direction.
 4. A method of controlling a woodchipper having an engine, a powered cutting system, a powered feedsystem, and a powered winch comprising: providing a sensor adapted tosense a first and a second speed of the engine; sensing the first or thesecond speed of the engine; allowing operation of the cutting system andprohibiting operation of the winch when the first speed is detected, andallowing operation of the winch and prohibiting operation of the cuttingsystem when the second speed is detected; placing the engine at or belowthe second speed; extending the winch line; using the winch to pullunprocessed wood products to the wood chipper; retracting the winchline; placing the engine at or above the first speed; operating the woodchipper to process the wood products.
 5. A method of controlling a winchfor a wood chipper having an engine, a powered cutting system, a poweredfeed system, and a powered winch comprising: determining a first speedof the engine; allowing operation of the feed system and prohibitingoperation of the winch when the first speed is determined; determining asecond speed of the engine; and allowing operation of the winch andallowing operation of the feed system in a predefined manner) when thesecond speed is determined.
 6. A method of controlling a winch for awood chipper having an engine, a powered cutting system, a powered feedsystem, and a powered winch comprising: determining a first speed of theengine; allowing operation of the cutting system and prohibitingoperation of the winch when the first speed is determined; determining asecond speed of the engine; and allowing operation of the winch andprohibiting operation of the cutting system when the second speed isdetermined.